Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 119, Shloka 6

अनसूयाप्रीतिदानम्

Anasūyā’s Blessing and the Forest Path

Devanagari script

ऋषीणामग्निहोत्रेषु हुतेषु विधिपूर्वकम्।कपोताङ्गारुणो धूमो दृश्यते पवनोद्धतः।।।।

Transliteration

ṛṣīṇām agnihotreṣu huteṣu vidhipūrvakam |

kapotāṅgāruṇo dhūmo dṛśyate pavanoddhataḥ ||

Translation

ரிஷிகளின் அக்னிஹோத்திரங்களில் விதிப்பூர்வமாக ஆஹுதிகள் செலுத்தப்பட்டபின், புறாவின் உடல்வண்ணம் போன்ற செம்மஞ்சள் புகை காற்றால் தூக்கப்பட்டு காணப்படுகிறது।

Word by Word

• ṛṣīṇām: of the sages
• ṛṣīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• agnihotreṣu: in the agnihotra rites
• agnihotreṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agnihotra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अधिकरण (location/context)

• huteṣu: when (they are) offered
• huteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √hu (हु दाने/होमने) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (kta), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agnihotreṣu इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम् (when offerings have been made)

• vidhi-pūrvakam: duly/according to rule
• vidhi-pūrvakam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrvaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (vidhinā pūrvakam = according to rule), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• kapota-aṅga-aruṇaḥ: tawny like a pigeon’s body
• kapota-aṅga-aruṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapota (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (kapotasya aṅgam iva aruṇaḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (dhūmaḥ)

• dhūmaḥ: smoke
• dhūmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् दर्शन)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• pavana-uddhataḥ: raised by the wind
• pavana-uddhataḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक) + uddhata (कृदन्त; ud-√han/√dhā?; here ‘uddhata’ = raised)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (pavanena uddhataḥ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (dhūmaḥ)

Context

O Rama, this is the one path in the forest used by the ascetics to gather fruits. You can safely cross the otherwise impassable forest through this path.

Characters & Entities

• Rishis (Ṛṣi)
• Agnihotra
• Smoke (Dhūma)
• Wind (Pavana)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is faithful performance of prescribed duties (yajña/ritual discipline) with correctness and sincerity—an outer form supporting inner truthfulness (satya).

What is the narrative situation?

A hermitage scene is described: sages complete agnihotra and the wind carries the visible smoke.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Steadiness in duty (niyama) and reverence for sacred practice, embodied by the sages’ orderly ritual life.